Uncle and Nephew Lost in Floodwaters in Giresun; Search Efforts Continue for the 4th Day

Search and rescue efforts continue for an uncle and his nephew who disappeared after their vehicle was caught in a flood in Turkey's Giresun province.

The incident took place on August 13 when torrential rains, measuring approximately 100 kilograms per square meter, triggered severe floods and inundations across the Keşap, Espiye, and Yağlıdere districts. The overflowing rivers caused significant damage, with numerous businesses flooded and homes, workplaces, and vehicles sustaining damage.

In the Karabulduk town of Keşap district, Ahmet Yılmaz, 50, managed to escape the vehicle that was swept away by the floodwaters. However, his companion, Mehmet Akkaya, 45, and Akkaya's nephew, Muhammed Abdullah Hakkıoğlu, 16, remain missing. Rescue teams, including AFAD, AKUT, and IHH, were dispatched to the area and initiated search operations, utilizing heavy machinery.

The vehicle was eventually found in the Keşap River, kilometers downstream from where it was swept away, but yielded no trace of the missing uncle and nephew. The search has now entered its fourth day, with approximately 200 personnel from various agencies, including AFAD and its volunteers, Police Search and Rescue (PAK), Gendarmerie Search and Rescue (JAK), UMKE, IHH Search and Rescue, AKUT, ATAK, fire departments, underwater search and rescue teams, and local administration bodies.

Equipped with 34 vehicles, 6 drones, 3 sonar devices, and 6 boats, the teams are meticulously searching a roughly 9-kilometer area from where the vehicle was found to where the river meets the sea, hoping to find any sign of the missing individuals.